I built this Home for me, for you

Chapter 32

The next morning, Lisa made them all pancakes and they sat around the table, answering more questions and finishing off the rest of their story, while Jennie flipped through the photo album, showing off more photos and feeling nostalgic. Lisa explained her recovery as best as she could, leaving no details out as she struggled to talk about how she'd changed when she came back, and Jennie kept a reassuring hand on top of Lisa's, giving it the occasional squeeze whenever her wife faltered slightly. They talked about her nightmares and panic attacks, and Jennie's trouble sleeping, Lisa's therapy and how their old dog, Kuma, had been a comfort to her when being around people became too much. Jennie told them about their wedding planning, and how they'd spent a few weeks in Midvale, enjoying the fresh air and the sea, and how she'd read Lisa poems until she fell asleep. The girls had a lot of questions, and their plates had been long since scraped clean by the time they left the table, satisfied for the time being.

They had a flight in the afternoon to take them back to Metropolis, and Jennie spent the rest of the morning washing their clothes and packing everything away, helping Ryujin with her homework and tidying up around the apartment. Then she settled down in her old office and worked on some paperwork, until lunchtime rolled around and Ryujin was knocking on the door to ask what they had to eat. Finishing up her work, Jennie capped her pen and closed her laptop, rolling the chair backwards and climbing to her feet. Walking over to the door, she paused slightly as she stood next to her daughter, a small crease forming between her eyebrows as she looked her up and down, taking in the lanky limbs and bare feet of her, before she looked back up.

"What's wrong?" Ryujin asked, her blue eyes innocent as she wondered why Jennie was looking at her like that.

"Mother fu- you're taller than me!" Jennie exclaimed, and it was true, as she realised that over the past few months her daughter had grown at least an inch, putting her taller than Jennie. She hadn't noticed the exact moment Ryujin had surpassed her height, but the sudden realisation that her little girl wasn't quite so little was shocking. "You're not even fifteen yet! How are you taller than me?! You obviously take after your mother."

Laughing, Ryujin threw her shoulders back and straightened up, trying to make herself look even taller so she could stare down at Jennie, who looked slightly peeved. "Knock it off," Jennie grumbled, poking her in the side and laughing as Ryujin let out a surprised yelp. "Speaking of your mother, where is she? I'm thinking pie for lunch."

Blinking in surprise, Ryujin gave Jennie a wary look, "pie, for lunch? Who are you?"

Wrapping an arm around her shoulder, Jennie steered her daughter out of the doorway and shut the office door behind then, "I'm your mom, who married a sugar-obsessed woman, who's passed it on to you. Besides, we could all do with a break," Jennie sighed. "You see her around here anywhere? She can't have gone far. Blonde hair, same eyes as you..."

Rolling her eyes, Ryujin walked down the hallway to the kitchen, no doubt with the intention of raiding the cupboards for a quick snack. "Seolhyun wanted her for something last time I checked. Try her room maybe."

Kissing her on the temple, Jennie walked down the hallway and stopped outside Seolhyun's door, quietly knocking and opening the door a crack. The room was empty, but she could hear voices coming from the bathroom - the sound of laughter and undistinguishable words - and smiled as she crossed the room, freezing when she reached the door, which was slightly ajar. Pushing it open, she crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head to the side, looking at her guilty looking daughter, holding a chunk of blonde hair in her hand and a pair of scissors in the other. Lisa turned and looked at Jennie, a laugh dying on her lips as she gave her wife a sheepish look, half of her hair cut to above her shoulders.